NEW News 2010: Millions of eyes on Chicago’s online news each month

newnewsfeatureopt3More than eight million people visit Chicago-area online news sites each month, according to our new report released today. While the report highlights a proliferation of online news and information sites in the Chicago area, when it comes to traffic, the sites of mainstream media clearly dominate. Six of the eight million unique cumulative visitors reported by all media outlets participating in the survey were to Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times, RedEye and ChicagoNow (the Trib’s blog site).

The 2nd annual NEW News report, produced by Community Media Workshop and funded by the Community News Matters program of The Chicago Community Trust, surveyed 121 online news outlets about issues ranging from salaried employees to the type of content being produced.

According to the report, most of the online sites surveyed rely heavily on unpaid bloggers and reporters and piggy bank financing. More than 60 percent of sites surveyed had no more than one person working full time on the site. A similar percentage reported that no one receives health insurance from their online news outlet.

Read more about the online news ecosystem in our eco-friendly, online-only report.

People to Pitch: Sally Duros, Digital Strategist

For fun, Sally Duros follows the “future of news”. A former reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, Duros has rebranded herself as a digital strategist “who provides insight and solutions to organizations.” At the height of the media downfall, Chicago industry insiders labeled the Internet as one of the threats to newspapers. Yet, Duros doesn’t think the Internet or social media technology is co-opting how news is produced and distributed but rather creating room for collaboration.

Community Media Workshop talked with Duros about social media and how nonprofits can utilize the technology to continue getting their stories to the public. Read the rest of this entry »

People to Pitch: Steve Rhodes, Beachwood Reporter

Steve Rhodes, editor and publisher of the Beachwood Reporter, talked with CMW about what benefits nonprofit communicators and agencies could gain from pitching to smaller news outlets.

Pitch Steve by emailing him at srhodes@beachwoodreporter.com or calling him at 773-235-8986.

Find more people to pitch your story by subscribing to our Getting On Air, Online & Into Print Media Guide!

People to Pitch: Fernando Diaz of Hoy

Fernando Diaz, Managing Editor at Hoy
How do nonprofits overcome “cause fatigue” when pitching to the media about older issues? Watch the video on how best to pitch Fernando at Hoy.

Upcoming Events & Training


RSS Nonprofit Communicator

  • What’s your election issue? September 2, 2010
    We need your help! This is your chance to tell journalists what you want to see in the news during the fall election. The Workshop is holding a news briefing in October for the ethnic news media on critical issues in this fall’s election. We would like your advice on at least two issues that you [...] […]

RSS Newstips by Curtis Black

  • Seniors defend Social Security August 31, 2010
    Senior citizens and their supporters will protest the appearance of the leading proponent of Social Security privatization at a Chicago fundraiser tomorrow. […]

RSS Chicago is the World

  • A bigger Chinatown packs its library September 2, 2010
    Photo by Mike Bohner Chinatown wants bigger library By Chi-an Chang (張季岸) Community Media Workshop Intern The Chinatown branch of the Chicago Public Library looks like it’s the most popular library in Chicago, where often the only seating available is on the floor. June Coutre, a 13-year resident of Chinatown, says she is frustrated with [...] […]

RSS Community, Media & You

  • Carol Marin December 15, 2009
     Studs Terkel’s community-driven stories and natural ability to give a voice to us all, no matter what side of the tracks we lived on, made him one of Chicago’s most iconic journalists. An eclectic disk jockey he was, as any listener to his weekday morning program on WFMT could attest. A man of many hats, [...] […]

RSS City Voices Podcast Archives

  • Fighting Chicago’s Asthma Problem June 17, 2009
    Recorded May, 2009 Children in Chicago’s North Lawndale community are at a higher risk of getting asthma. According to the Sinai Urban Health Institute, one in four children in that neighborhood have asthma. That’s almost double city-wide and national averages.So what is it about North Lawndale that puts children at an increased risk? Who – [...] […]

RSS Chicago is the World Radio

  • The Inveterate Hybrid: Dave Wakeling of the English Beat August 9, 2010
    We had the chance to talk with Dave Wakeling of the English Beat – or the Beat, as they’re known outside of the United States. He told us about how their particular form of 2 tone ska came about in London during the late 70’s, creating what would become the second wave of ska music. [...] […]

Programming at Chicago Public Media’s Chicago Amplified


Listen to Community Media Workshop special events on "Chicago Amplified" at wbez.org. Select "Community Media Workshop" in the "View Event Archives By Partner" drop down menu.




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